About the Author (College Edition)

Since I’ve been blogging here for six years, I thought I’d publish a re-introduction post. If you’ve been following for a long time, then you’ll realize that I’ve moved from high school to college, from farm life to city life, in the span of those years. If you’re a new follower, then we probably haven’t had the chance to get acquainted at all!

p.c. Meredith Sledge Photography

Just a few basics then:

I’m a 19 year old college student, finishing up her sophomore year of school at Marymount, a private university in the Washington DC area.

I went into school as a Communications major, but changed majors to English during my freshman year. I like to blame certain faculty members for encouraging that decision. Needless to say, I love my major – is it even possible to love what you’re studying as much as I do? I love it so much that I would prefer to take English classes all year round and skip gen ed requirements.

Smithsonian Castle, Washington DC

All the photographs that you see on this blog are ones that I have taken (with the exception of my contributors’ posts). I love photography, but I am not a professional by any means – I’d like to characterize my skills as those of an enthusiastic amateur. If you’re curious about what I shoot with: until December 2013, I shot with a Nikon D5000. I currently shoot with a Nikon D90, and generally use a 35mm lens (or, occasionally, my 55-200mm).

My real passion is for writing. I love crafting things with words and giving stories and people life through printed matter. (I know. It sounds cliche.) My favorite genre to write in is Creative Nonfiction. I plan on publishing a few pieces on this blog in the near future.

Southease Train Station, Sussex, England

My second passion is for traveling, but I especially love it when I can combine my first love (writing) with my second. I’ve traveled to Israel, Spain and England. Last spring, I spent a week visiting cities in northern Spain, even walking parts of the Camino for a travel writing class. Last summer I spent six weeks studying at Oxford, in England. I was able to study Virginia Woolf with an Oxford don, and spent many hours inside the Bodleian Library.

My research interests include Woolf, Sherlock Holmes and adaptation studies (particularly transmedia adaptations). I like being able to combine those interests: for instance, my most recent conference presentation was about the creation of female “others” in CBS’s Elementary (an adaptation of Sherlock Holmes).

1/2 of my bookshelves. 1/3 of my books.

You should never, ever ask me who my favorite authors are. However, if you want a partial list, they include Laurie R. King, A. Conan Doyle, Virginia Woolf (obviously), Katherine Mansfield, J. R. R. Tolkien, Lewis Carroll, G. K. Chesterton, C.S. Lewis, George Macdonald, Agatha Christie, Melody Carlson, Kate Morton (brilliant author), etc. I could list more, but I think you’re probably nodding off over there on the other side of the screen.

My favorite classes I’ve taken include Movie/Book Adaptations, Studies in Performance (17th/18th Century drama), Sherlock Holmes (an Oxford-style honors tutorial), Writing Process, and Travel Writing. I’m sure there are more. Even though I like to complain about it, I actually enjoy Lit. Theory. Perhaps I just enjoy the jouissance (pleasure/pain complex) that the readings give me. But I digress.

Cast photo from our most recent show: You Can’t Take It With You.

I’m obsessed with academics, but when I’m not doing homework or reading, I’m probably working/volunteering at whatever library I happen to be closest to, at theatre rehearsal, or helping with English Department events. Sometimes, I even have coffee with friends or go do something that might be called a “social life”. (Social life? What’s that?)

Welcome to Farmgirl Writes, where I blog through some of the craziness, and sometimes even blog about it. I can’t wait to get to know you better, so make sure to leave a comment to say hello!

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I’m Amanda. I started this blog as a 13-year-old farmgirl… and now I’m a twenty-something seminarian. I like to blog about theology, literature, Sherlock Holmes, my cat, and sometimes I reflect on this crazy journey I’ve been given. Currently based in Virginia/DC.